Best Camping Chairs for Bad Backs (SAVE your back)
If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best camping chair for bad backs are, then we recommend the STRONGBACK Elite folding camping chair.
Sitting around the campfire should be a relaxing experience, even if you are one of the millions of people who suffer from a bad back. However, if you have the wrong type of chair, a relaxing experience is probably not what you would call it.
You need a chair that is made for those with bad backs! Specifically, you need a chair with lumbar support!
We’ve taken the time to sort through the garbage and found 5 of the most comfortable, yet sturdy camping chairs that your back will love. And yes…they all have lumbar support!
In a Hurry? Here’s Our Top 3 Picks…
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What To Look For In A Camping Chair Made for Bad Backs
Traditional camp chairs are uncomfortable to sit in – even for short periods of time. The poor back posture caused by the lack of lumbar support in the chair design causes discomfort and often pain.
If you love sitting around the campfire, then you know how important a comfortable camping chair is, especially if you have a bad back.
While there are plenty of brands and styles on the market to choose from, most don’t offer enough back support for your back.
Here are a few things to consider before deciding on a camping chair:
Does The Chair Have Lumbar Support
The most important feature to look for when deciding on a chair for your bad back is that it has lumbar support!
Lumbar support refers to the five vertebrae in the spine that are located between the diaphragm and the sacrum. This area is referred to as the lumbar region.
Chairs that claim to have “lumbar support”, will have extra support, specifically designed to help keep your spine properly aligned in its natural position.
By keeping your spine properly aligned, your muscles won’t have to work as hard in order to support your back, which should help to relieve, if not eliminate your back pain.
Is The Frame Strong and Fabric Strong
Frame
Having a camping chair with lumbar support means nothing if it’s made from poor quality materials.
First, you want to make sure that the frame is made of a strong material such as steel. And not just any steel frame will do! It needs to be thick. I recommend something over 20mm.
Something else to look for is a frame that is powder coated. This not only looks better, but it will give your chair better protection against the elements.
Fabric
The fabric material is something else to consider! You don’t want a chair with a low-quality fabric for its seat and back support. Over time a poor quality material will stretch and begin to deteriorate, which in turn can make for a very uncomfortable chair.
I recommend looking for a chair that has a heavy duty polyester fabric with at least a 400D (denier) fabric rating!
In case you don’t know, the denier rating is a measurement that determines how strong a fabric is. The higher the number, the stronger the fabric. All of the chairs on our list have a denier rating of 600, making super durable and waterproof.
Is The Chair Big Enough
I don’t care how much back support a chair has, if it’s too small for you, it’s not going to do you or your back much good. On the flip side, if the chair is too big, you could be doing just as much harm to your back as with a small chair.
Make sure to choose a chair that matches your body size. This includes your height as well as your weight. The last thing you want is for your chair to collapse on you while enjoying a hot cocoa around the campfire!
Reviews: Best Camping Chair for Bad Backs
STRONGBACK Elite Camp Chair
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The STRONGBACK Elite is basically the big brother of the STRONGBACK Guru, which you’ll find later, which also happened to make our list.. While the Guru is designed for those less than 5’8, the Elite is made for people 5’8 and over.
The Elite outdoor chair is made of heavy duty materials, including a powder coated steel frame capable of supporting up to 300 lbs. It also comes with a 600D (denier) fabric, that happens to be tear and resistant proof, which is a huge benefit for anything being used outdoors.
Now lets not forget about the reason that you probably found this article! The STRONGBACK Elite comes with an award winning, patented lumbar support system that will help to ease the tension on your back, thereby helping to relieve your back pain.
It also comes with a carrying case equipped with a shoulder strap, cup holders, padded armrests, and an additional padded lumbar pad.
The Elite camping chair is compact and lightweight, weighing only 11.9 lbs. It has a seat width of 23 inches and a folding size of just 11”(w) x 6”(d) x 44”(h).
While we think that this chair is the best camping chair for bad backs, we have to admit that it lacks in the storage department. It doesn’t come with any pockets, or like some chairs that we reviewed…a drink cooler.
With that being said, if you’re looking for an outdoor chair that can put your bad back at ease, we believe that the STRONGBACK Elite is the best.
STRONGBACK Guru Folding Camp Chair
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If you’re needing a strong, durable chair that can not only support your back, but is also extremely comfortable, then the STRONGBACK Guru folding camping chair might be just what the doctor ordered.
Not only does it come with their award winning frame integrated lumbar support system (which is essential for alleviating back pain), but it also has additional lumbar padding for increased support.
The STRONGBACK Guru can hold up to 300 pounds and is constructed of heavy duty materials, unlike the cheaper folding camping chairs that you’ll find in your neighborhood department stores.
This includes a powder coated steel frame and 600D(denier) polyester fabric that’s virtually tear and weather resistant.
With such a strong, durable chair, you may expect it to weigh a ton right? Nope!
This chair only weighs 10.5 pounds and folds to a measurement of 6d x 6.5w x 40h.
Rounding out the list of features, it comes with a handy carrying bag and has two built-in mesh cup holders.
The only thing to keep in mind before deciding on this chair is that it’s on the smaller side. In fact, it’s specifically made for campers less than 5’8 in height.
However, if you love the idea of this chair but need something larger, you can check out its big brother, the STRONGBACK Elite.
KingCamp Folding Camping Chair
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The KingCamp chair is another great option for those with bad backs! Not only is it great on your back, but it’s also a great all-around camping chair.
Obviously lumbar support is a must for a camping chair that claims to be good for your back, but the KingCamp takes it a step further by incorporating an alignment strap that helps to ensure your lumbar support stays in place at all times
This chair is as strong as a bull too! Its comes with a steel frame design along with a 600D (denier) fabric. This should ensure the chair will be around for many years after purchase.
Keep in mind that this chair is a bit big! Its steel frame measures 24.5 x 23.5 x 41 with the seat measuring 17.7” across. It also has a weight capacity of 350 lbs.
Although built super tough, the KingCamp folding chair is one of the lightest chairs on this list (weighs only 11.3 lbs) easily fold down, making easy to lug around, which is also helping your back.
Something else that separates this chair from some of the others is its storage capacity!
It has a built in cooler that can easily hold 3 cans of your favorite beverage (mine is beer). It also comes with a side storage for keeping all of your books and magazines within arms reach.
Lastly, it has a nifty headrest storage compartment for additional storage or you can stuff a pillow in it for additional head and neck support.
Although this chair has some very nice features, the one thing that I didn’t like was that it was a little hard to fit back into its carrying case.
Other than that, this is a great chair that should last you a very long time!
PELLIOT Portable Camping
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If you’re someone who has a bad back, and is always on the go, or who likes to move around your campsite a lot, then the PELLIOT camping chair might be just what you need!
Not only does the PELLIOT come with a heavy duty lumbar support system, but it also comes with a fully cushioned seat and back support.
Coming in at just over 7 lbs, it’s definitely the lightest chair on our list, not to mention, folds down to just 7.4 x 7.4 x 36.6 inches.
Don’t let the weight fool you though! This chair is just as tough as all the rest on our list.
It has a heavy duty steel frame and fabric and can hold up to 300 lbs!
The PELLIOT also comes with a 4-can side cooler, as well as storage for phones, books and magazines enabling you to keep all of your essentials within an arm’s length away.
The one thing that seemed a little weird about this chair was the size of the cup holders. They could have made them a little bigger in order to fit canned drinks and bottled water in them a little more easier.
Overall, this chair is a solid choice! It’s sturdy, lightweight, has plenty of storage, and offers lumbar support for your back.
VCAMP Folding Camping Chair
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If you’re needing a chair that’s just a little bit bigger than the rest, then consider the VCAMP folding camping chair.
This large capacity folding camping chair is perfect for adults on the larger side. It has a 35 inch oversized seating area and a weight capacity of 400 lbs.
It also includes a lumbar support system for added back support, providing luxurious comfort regardless if you’re camping in the woods or at the ball field.
It’s constructed of top quality materials, including 600D (denier) padded oxford fabric with reinforced elastic mesh that’s not only super strong, but also breathable, allowing for a cool comfortable chair.
Its powder coated steel frame is fitted with high strength plastic fittings at each intersection of the frame for added strength and durability. This chair is built to last a lifetime!
The VCAMP folding chair has all the storage that you’d expect from a quality camping chair, including a 4-can beverage cooler, a side pocket for all of your magazines and books, as well as a durable mesh cup holder able to fit most cups or drinks.
With so many features, you might expect this chair to weigh a ton, but the VCAMP only weighs 10.45 lbs and easily collapses and folds down to a manageable size of just 8.3″ x 8.3″ x 38.2″.
Overall, there is nothing about this chair that I didn’t like, which is why it snagged our top spot!
Conclusion
While all the chairs on our list will provide support for your back and are extremely comfortable, I would say that the STRONGBACK Elite is the best one for your back. However, if you are under 5’8 in height, then go with the STRONGBACK Guru, which is essentially the same chair, it’s just built for smaller people.
There are plenty of camping chairs on the market, however if you need a chair that can accomodate your bad back, then you would be wise to consider one of the chairs on our list. Not only do they provide the much needed lumbar support, but they also come with most of the features of other camping chairs. Things like coolers, padded armrests, side-pockets, and cup holders.
